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Star trio ... Victory's front three are in fine form. Source: Martin Philbey / AAP
Marcos Flores, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva. Playing a game of odd one out? No, we're asking: what do these three have in common?
The answer lies in Ange Postecoglou's transformation of Melbourne Victory this year and the decision to play with a 'false No.9' – a position made fashionable during Spain's Euro 2012 triumph during the off-season.
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The two-time grand final winner has answered those who wondered if he could bring his Midas touch to Melbourne – but in excavating the Victory from the Mehmet Durakovic-Harry Kewell-Jim Magilton circus to a slick, entertaining outfit, he has shown he is not a one-trick pony, either.
Postecoglou told foxsports.com.au that Spain's Euro 2012 success was the impetus for him to thrust the Argentine into a role we haven't really yet seen in the A-League – and revealed it was a role that he originally envisioned for Harry Kewell.
"It was something I toyed with doing at Brisbane but didn't have the players there to be able to do it that way," Postecoglou said.
"When I got to Victory it was something I thought I'd try – if you've got the right type of players, it can be hard to stop and has endless possibilities.
"Most teams play with a central striker and that limits certain things you can do. This releases that area and allows more people to come through.
"So, watching Spain at the Euros, and the way they went about it, certainly gave us something to think about.
"That was the way I wanted to play and I had a look at the players I had available. To be honest, I had a look at the players I had here and I thought Harry Kewell would be back and it was the kind of role I thought Harry could play really well."
MARCOS FLORES
In building a team with a lethal front three, Postecoglou hailed Flores's ability to play to a new structure – something that has also helped Marco Rojas and Archie Thompson form part of a lightning attacking trio.
"It's a different role to what Marcos is used to - and he's working hard to make it effective.
"Sometimes it means he won't get as many highlight reels as he did at Adelaide but he just wants to be successful. It's the No.1 thing he said to me – he wanted to be a champion.
"To do that you've got to fit into the structure of a team and he's growing into that role and you've seen in the last few weeks he's growing into now."
Flores has been the fulcrum in between two players enjoying stellar seasons.
MARCO ROJAS
Marco Rojas, reportedly attracting interest from clubs like Juventus and Liverpool recently, has been a revelation, returning to the player who burst onto the scene at Wellington Phoenix.
Postecoglou wanted him for the Roar, but couldn't wait to use him at Victory once he took on the job.
But what's changed from last year to this year?
"I didn't have to say anything specific to him; he knew he had to work hard this year. And he has from day one. He understands his role in the team and that's probably helped him," Postecoglou explained.
"He had a tough year last year, because the whole Melbourne Victory side struggled. But I knew he was someone I could work with.
"The style of game we play would suit him, we're set up for a player like him to do what he does – he's grown from there, he's got a lot of confidence from that, he had a good pre-season with us. And now he's scoring goals, feeling good about how the team's playing and that's coming out as a result."
ARCHIE THOMPSON
The final member of Postecoglou's dynamic trio is the effervescent Archie Thompson.
Holger Osieck can't get enough of the ageless striker – and Postecoglou explains why, adding this is as good an opportunity as ever for Thompson to star for the national team.
"I think the fact the World Cup is in touching distance is a great motivator for him," he said.
"He works really hard at training. I never talk about his age because of what I see, how hard he works at training.
"He's one of the players I really look forward to working with. We've changed his role to what he was probably used to. He's embraced it.
"He realises he's there to work with the other strikers and I think he's heading into his best form at the right time.
"He's not just scoring goals, but he's set up a number for Marco this year and he's always threatening going forward. "
VICTORY CULTURE
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Coast | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 17 | 39 |
| 2 | Victory | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 |
| 3 | Western Sydney | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 35 |
| 4 | Adelaide | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | -8 | 23 |
| 6 | Brisbane | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | -1 | 21 |
| 7 | Heart | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | -3 | 21 |
| 8 | Sydney | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | -9 | 21 |
| 9 | Wellington | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | -10 | 20 |
| 10 | Perth | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -2 | 19 |
On Sunday Shootout, Postecoglou hailed his entire squad for embracing the challenge he set for them when he arrived.
Fox Sports football expert Mark Bosnich admits he feared Postecoglou might have been "trying too much too soon" with players he might be "asking to go a step too far".
But Postecoglou says that "bravery is in the execution".
And Victory are a new entity – not just on the pitch, but off it, as a result.
"We had to change the culture: not because what was there was wrong, but because I like to work a certain way.
"Certainly, we've expanded the football department. I brought in people who had the mindset and culture to put it in place, who I've worked with before. Obviously there's also Kevin Muscat, Steve Mautone, who've been at the club for a while as well.
"We've built a really strong football department. It's where it all starts. It's about having a total football philosophy around it.
"We've changed things radically from what they were last year - because it wasn't successful, but also because of how I want to work.
"That's an evolving process, we'll keep trying to improve on and off the field because I think the possibility to improve are endless."
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